Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Hurray for summer! Of all the seasons, this one simply demands
a soundtrack of fresh tunes to rock the warm weather.This playlist kicks off with a surprise treat
from Beck with other outtakes from sessions by The National and St. Vincent.
Many newer bands are back with solid second albums: De Lux, Oberhofer, and
Motopony. Plus check out songs off debut albums (Avid Dancer, Grounders, Boxed
In, Black Rivers, Jamie xx) and more. Link to listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist.

** EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU CAN NAME THE BANDS WITH TWINS IN THE LINEUP (ANSWER AT
THE END OF THIS POST!)

1. “Dreams” − Beck

Beck has tossed aside that folky hat and is back on the
dance floor with this single from an unnamed album to follow up last year’s
Grammy-winning Morning Phase. The song cranks up immediately with a killer
electric guitar riff, sturdy back beat and echoing vocals that drop in, out,
and around – carousing for over five minutes.

2. “Oh Man the Future” −
De Lux

L.A. synth pop duo De Lux is back with a sophomore album
called Generation.This tune layers vocalist Sean Guerin’s wacky
ramblings (first written on his phone’s notepad) over a fun groove and irresistible
melody in the chorus.

3.“Not Far to Go” –
Avid Dancer

The psych pop of L.A. band Avid Dancer is courtesy of Jacob Summers,
an ex-Marine and world champ at rudimental snare drumming.“Not Far to Go” is off the debut album 1st Bath.

4. “Burning
for No One” – The Cribs

English indie rock band The Cribs has released a sixth album since
2002, For All My Sisters, with the
help of producer Ric Ocasek.This single
flaunts the trio of brothers’ signature taut punk sound.

5. “Sedona”
– Houndmouth

Houndmouth is a folk rock quartet hailing from New Albany, Indiana. This
infectious tune is off the group’s second album since 2011, Little Neon Limelight.

6.
“Daylights Gone” – Motopony

Seattle’s self-proclaimed “hard-soul/glitch-folk” band Motopony has
released a sophomore album, Welcome You. “Daylights Gone” serves as the single with
call out vocals by Daniel Blue to join in the musical jam.

7.
“Sunshine on My Back” – The National

American indie rock band The National was formed in Cincinnati in 1999
and is now based in Brooklyn after six albums. This single from the Trouble Will Find Me (2013) sessions
features Sharon Van Etten backing up singer/lyricist Matt Berninger in his characteristic
low-key approach to vocalizing.

8. “I’m In
Love With My Life” – PHASES

PHASES (formerly Jjamz) is an indie pop band from L.A. with former
Phantom Planet singer Alex Greenwald. His home experiments using an outdated
version of GarageBand provided the foundation for this catchy single from a
future album.

9. “Memory Remains” – Oberhofer

Brooklyn based musician Brad Oberhofer is ready to release his band’s
sophomore album in August, titled Chronovision.
This single illustrates the musical power of full throttle singing over psych
rock leanings.

10. “All
Your Love Is Gone” – Boxed In

British producer Oli Bayston is the mastermind behind the new band
Boxed In, earning praise with this single off a self-titled debut album.The song luxuriates in a multi-layered synth
soundtrack and Bayston’s moody vocals.

11. “Loud
Places” – Jamie xx

Jamie xx is the stage name for Jamie Smith, a music producer, remix
artist, and member of the English indie band the xx.His debut solo album, In Colour, is filled with a deft electronic touch (here with the
help of bandmate Romy Madley Croft on vocals).

12. “The
Ship” – Black Rivers

Brothers Jez and Andy Williams were two-thirds of the English rock band
Doves from 1999 until the band went on hiatus in 2009.They have now joined together in a new
musical project Black Rivers. “The Ship” exhibits the same emotive sweep of song just like the Doves.

13. “Can’t
Keep Checking My Phone” – Unknown Moral Orchestra

Portland based singer, guitarist and songwriter Ruban Nielson focuses
on a downfall of modern love with this single from the band’s third studio
album since 2010, Multi-love.It’s a swanky, ironic composition about
long distance yearnings.

14. “Secret
Friend” – Grounders

Toronto quartet Grounders offers an easy vibe for this single off the
band’s self-titled debut album.The haze
of low-fi production does not mitigatethe melodic
pull of the tune.

15. “The
Chase” – Future Islands

Baltimore based synth pop band Future Islands has released a few
singles in between albums (four since 2008). “The Chase” highlights passionate,
gravelly vocals by Samuel T. Herrig, with floating electronic chords, guitar
lines, and drums providing steady musical support.

16.
“Teenage Talk” – St. Vincent

Annie Clark a.k.a. St. Vincent had this single left over from the
sessions for her last Grammy-nominated album (2014’s self titled St. Vincent). It’s
a sweet, nostalgic tune with this multi-talented artist as a more
straightforward storyteller.

17.
“Sagras” − The Tallest Man on Earth

Indie folk Swedish songwriter Kristian Matsson is known for recording
and producing his own material since 2005, but for his fourth album as The
Tallest Man on Earth he utilized a full band for almost every track.“Sagras” shows the resulting lush
instrumental backing, while Matsson’s vocals still command attention.

18. “Home” – Barbarossa

Barbarossa is the musical project of London multi-instrumentalist
James Mathé, enlisting the vocals of Swedish singer José González for this
haunting tune. (They are band mates together in the group Junip). The minimalist electronics of “Home” is from a
third album, Imager.

Monday, June 22, 2015

The other day I heard the Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime" on KEXP which took me back to the days of early MTV's short playlist and Tony Basil's choreography capturing David Byrne's manic angularity without messing with the pure magic of this iconic song. When I realized it was the live version, I was back at Forest Hills aglow from the group's conceptually creative concert as captured in film for Stop Making Sense. (I wrote about the doc's 30th anniversary in a post last fall.) My mind then flashed forward in time through concerts in 1993, 2001 and 2009 plus Here Lies Love (2013) along with my many run ins with David Byrne in the city and lately at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, known as BAM. My first article for PopMatters about my love of online radio was picked up by his website five years ago -- probably my proudest moment in writing. I was also recently tapped to write about his collaboration with BAM and the Barclays Center, Contemporary Color, to appear in the BAMbill and BAM Blog (found online here).

While I've seen many other media outlets pick up the story, so much is focused on the genius of Byrne and the visual showcase of ten color guard teams but hardly mentioning half of the rock stars that will be providing the soundtrack. I'm sure they were all pleased to get the call to join in and have since been going the extra mile to compose an original piece of music for the project. Here's a video of Merrill Garbus of TUnE-yArDs (and fellow Smith grad) meeting with her color guard team Emanon for the first time. Check this varied list of artists below, visit ContemporaryColor.com or read my BAM write up for more info, and grab some tickets. For me, Contemporary Color is going to be yet another momentous musical moment with David Byrne.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Since 1997, indie band Mates of State has embraced feel good harmonies and a sweetly positive outlook in punchy, hook filled tunes. The couple Kori Gardner (vocals/keyboard) and Jason Hammel (vocals/drums) clearly maintain the glow of musical compatibility in their self-produced EP You're Going to Make It, out today via Barsuk Records. As a fan and fellow suburban Connecticut parent, I interviewed Hammel for PopMatters in 2010 and caught them on tour in support of their last album, Mountaintops (2011). The wildly catchy single from that release, "Palamino," was an easy pick for my Fall 2011 New Music Playlist.

Family life has only strengthened the bond and it shows. The video even includes their tow-headed daughters. Magnolia as a dancer and June as a new student who launches a blow out party right in school. It is based on a true story of sorts as June once sang to a class instead of choosing to read a book as an introduction. Welcome back and sure, why not bring the whole family. Check out the video on YouTube or below and give a full listen to the five song EP -- although I warn, you it'll be over way too early. Mates of State will also be at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on July 10 as part of a summer tour.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

It was love at first listen when I heard "Oh Man the Future," off the sophomore release Generation (via Innovative Leisure Records) by L.A. synth pop duo De Lux. It filled out a mathematical equation of fave bands LCD Soundsystem plus Talking Heads to equal the sound found in this fun, quirky song that just makes you want to get your groove on. Take a listen to my pick for the song of Summer 2015 on SoundCloud or below.

De Lux was founded in 2013 by multi-instrumentalists Sean Guerin (Lead Vocals/Guitar) and Isaac Franco (Backing Vocals/Bass) with a post-disco dance punk DIY aesthetic that presented itself in last year's debut album, Voyage. Their song "Moments" was featured on my Summer 2014 New Music Playlist and this new track will open this year's summer compilation after the album drops June 23.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Just days after the title track "No No No" from Beirut's upcoming album was released, it's already getting steady airplay on my favorite online radio outlets KEXP and KCRW. At first listen you could tell right away it was Beirut back with new material, with the signature worldly approach of Santa Fe native Zach Condon. The song is more like a whimsical ditty, harboring a complexity that belies Condon's troubadour vocals. His main instruments are ukulele and flugelhorn, but has a command of many others - even adding in a conch shell on 2007's The Flying Club Cup.No No No is the first release since The Rip Tide in 2011. Two tracks from that album, "Sante Fe" and "East Harlem," appeared on my Fall 2011 New Music Playlist at the time. But after extensive touring in support of the collection, Condon landed in an Australian hospital to treat exhaustion. When I caught the band at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry festival in 2012, Condon seemed to have such a casual command of his musical powers. (Check out a video from the night of "The Elephant Song" below.) Of course, all this provided a deep source for creativity as these things generally do. After a full recovery, Condon is planning live dates with an expanded touring band this fall with a stop at Radio City Music Hall October 1. Take a listen to the new song here or on YouTube and look for the new album September 11 via 4AD.